SEASON SERIES: Lincoln beat Glenwood 53-31 on Jan. 25 in the County Market Classic in Jacksonville and 65-55 on Feb. 11 in Chatham

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Lincoln beat Decatur Eisenhower 53-33 on March 4 and Decatur MacArthur 46-44 in overtime March 7 to win Lincoln Regional; Glenwood beat Rochester 59-49 on March 4 and Taylorville 63-45 on March 7 to win Taylorville Regional

For the third consecutive season, Chatham Glenwood High School finds itself in a sectional.

And for the second straight year, the Titans find themselves in a semifinal against Central State Eight Conference foe Lincoln.

Junior Cole Harper, Glenwood's second-leading scorer behind Peyton Allen, is hoping that's not the only part of history that repeats itself.

“Last year, we had almost the same exact season as we had this season,” Harper said. “We didn't have any injuries (or sicknesses) this season, but we were up and down. It was a roller-coaster season.

“We didn't do what we wanted to do in the CS8 Conference, so we focused on the postseason.”

Glenwood knocked off Lincoln in last year's Class 3A Mount Zion Sectional semifinal 44-42 in overtime. And this year's Titans (20-11) would love nothing more than to take home another sectional plaque.

“We're always focused on peaking at the right times, and I think we're doing that again this year,” Harper said.

As a sophomore, Harper would likely be found near the perimeter. And at 6 feet 5, he made for some matchup problems going against other point guards.

With the loss of interior players Craig Fuchs and Daniel Helm to graduation, Harper's been scoring much of his 12.6 points per game from in the paint, slicing and dicing his way past many defenders.

“Coming into this year, our roles are kind of different,” Harper said. “I'm kind of filling in at the high-post area and I'm grabbing as many boards as I can. Whatever the team needs, I'll do.”

His 7.6 rebounding average leads the Titans.

Glenwood coach Todd Blakeman said Harper has quickly adapted to the type of player the Titans need, even if that role changes a bit from one game to the next.

“He understands what's expected of him,” Blakeman said. “He fits his role nicely this year. He's a little more demanding of the ball now in the post.

“Cole's a good basketball player. He's a no-nonsense kid that's just going to do what you tell him. He's a hard-nosed player.”

Making history

Just 12 months ago, when the Titans and Railers squared off in the sectional. Lincoln came in with a 28-4 record while Glenwood was 22-10.

“That was one of the best ‘family' teams I've been a part of (with) two of the best leaders I've ever had — Craig Fuchs and Miles McAdams,” Harper said.

The Titans had dealt with bouts of mononucleosis to both Harper and Allen, sidelining both for weeks.

Glenwood had lost both regular-season games to the Railers — just like this season — but got the upset victory on Allen's catch-and-shoot basket at the end of overtime, sending the Titans to the sectional final.

And though Lincoln is shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range, Harper hopes the Titans' height — rotation players Harper, Allen, Sam Harper and Josh Matchuny are all 6-5 — can once again score a Glenwood upset.

Stopping Lincoln's long-range game is the key, he said.

“They've got so many shooters who get them back into a game in a hurry, or get you out of the game in a hurry,” he said.